MRPO Daily Status Report 10-08-02
Calendar Date: 10/08/02
Increment: 5
Stage: UF2
Week 18
ISS Information:
The 9A Flight launched at approximately 2:45 p.m. CDT yesterday. Docking
with the ISS is planned tomorrow at approximately 10:30 a.m. CDT. ISS/9A
Joint Operations will last until Wednesday, 10/16.
Payloads being launched on 9A:
CGBA, PGBA, STES-7, Seed Culture (sortie), and ZCG Samples
Payloads being returned on 9A:
ADVASC, MEPS Samples, SAMS Hard Drive/Battery, Seed Culture (sortie),
StelSys, STES-8, and ZCG Samples
Payloads currently on-board ISS:
ADVASC (HW), BSTC, InSPACE, MAMS, MEPS, MSG (facility), PFMI, SAMS, SUBSA
and ZCG. InSpace was not planned to operate during this stage.
Status:
MRPO payloads MAMS, SAMS and STES 8 continue nominal, basically unattended,
operations. ADVASC, BSTC, MEPS, StelSys, SUBSA and ZCG operations have
been successfully completed.
EXPRESS RACKS 1 and 4 (ER1 & ER4) are powered and supporting payload
operations. ER2 is powered to support ARIS adjustments in preparation
for ZCG operations on 9A. ER3 is installed in the US Lab and will be checked
out later. ER5 was checked out during Increment 4 and powered down.
ADVASC was deactivated yesterday and cables to the payload were removed
and stowed today in preparation for returning the growth chamber on 9A.
ARTIC 1, which contains the StelSys samples is nominal. The StelSys samples
will be transferred to a cryodewar Friday for return on 9A.
The ZCG samples that have been stowed in ARTIC 2 were removed yesterday
in preparation for return on 9A.
MAMS is operating nominally in the quasi-steady mode. HiRAP is currently
turned-off but it will be activated prior to 9A docking. MAMS data is
available on the acceleration measurement web page.
MSG power was turned-off today following completion of processing and
cool down of PFMI sample # 6 yesterday.
PFMI sample #6 operations were completed yesterday and the sample was
removed from the thermal chamber and stowed today. This completes PFMI
operations until the 9A Joint Operations period is completed.
All SAMS sensors in EXPRESS Racks are operating nominally. The SAMS
sensor in the MSG is turned-off. SAMS data is also being posted to the
acceleration measurement web page.
STES-8 is nominal. The four remaining activated growth chambers are
to be deactivated tomorrow before 9A docks with ISS. On Friday STES-7
and STES-8 will be exchanged and STES-7 will be activated.
Near-term Outlook:
Week 18 (10/7-10/13) – Docking should occur tomorrow and EVA #1
on Thursday. Reboost #1 of ISS to a higher orbit and EVA #2 are planned
Saturday. STES-8 deactivation, STES 7/8 transfer exchanges and STES-7
activation in ER4 are scheduled. Stelsys and ZCG samples are to be transferred
to the Shuttle mid-deck. New ZCG samples will be transferred from the
shuttle mid-deck and installed in the ZCG furnace, located in ER2, and
activated. PGBA will also be transferred from the shuttle mid-deck, installed
in ER4 and activated.
Week 19 (10/14-10/20) – Reboost #2 and EVA #3 are planned for Monday
10/14. Tuesday, 10/15, will be a crew off-duty day and 9A undock is planned
for Wednesday 10/16. CGBA will be transferred from the shuttle mid-deck
and installed in ER4.
M. Vlasse, PhD, DSc
MRPO Increment Scientist
ACRONYMS:
ADVASC – Advanced Astroculture
ARIS–Active Rack Isolation System
ARTIC 1 – On-board Freezer
ARTIC 2 – On-board refrigerator
BCSS — Biotechnology Cell Science Stowage
BSTC– Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (General status information
on this payload will include coverage of the following items of support
equipment: BTR, BCSS and GSM)
BTR — Biotechnology Refrigerator
ER1– EXPRESS RACK 1
ER2 — EXPRESS RACK 2
ER3 – EXPRESS RACK 3
ER4 – EXPRESS RACK 4
ER5 – EXPRESS RACK 5
EVA – Extra-vehicular Activity
GSM — Gas Supply Module
InSPACE– Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates
ISS – International Space Station
MAMS — Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System
MEPS – Microencapsulation Electrostatic Processing System
MSG – Microgravity Science Glovebox
PFMI – Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation
SAMS — Space Acceleration Measurement System II
STES – Protein Crystal Growth – Single Thermal Enclosure System
SUBSA – Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules
ZCG – Zeolite Crystal Growth
